Our Badge

Since March 14, 1870, when Bettie Locke, Alice Allen, Bettie Tipton, and Hannah Fitch first wore their new badges to chapel at Indiana Asbury, the kite-shaped pin has been a symbol of membership in Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity.

Early Badge Designs

The final design for those first badges was simple but elegant. At 1 inch by three-quarters of an inch, they were slightly larger than the current standard badge. The badge of 1870 contained many of the markings found on today’s badges: the white chevron with the Greek letters and two stars. In that first design, a chased border edged the badge.

Once she had designed it, Bettie sought a jeweler who made other fraternity badges. John Newman of New York was contacted, and in his response, he first addressed Bettie as "Sir." We do not have Bettie's response, but he does refer to her as a "Miss" in his next letter.

Multiple Jewelers

For the first 11 years, the official jeweler was Newman & Company of New York. However, members would often go to local jewelers and get their own version of the official design. Found in samples in the Theta archives, the edging changes from a chased border to a rope or bead edging. Some members commissioned more ornate badges with combinations of pearls, diamonds, rubies, garnets, emeralds, and opals decorating the edge of these early badges. As new chapters were established around the country, the Fraternity named more "official jewelers." By 1896, seven official jewelers were located around the country.

Grand Convention eventually passed legislation regulating the design of the badge. In 1889, the Constitution & Bylaws specifically stated that Newman & Company's die was to be used in production of all badges. In 1899, a formal description of the badge was included in the Constitution & Bylaws. In 1907, an attempt was made to standardize the design using only pearls or diamonds, but this effort failed. Legislation in 1909 reduced the size of the badge to 1 inch by two-thirds of an inch.

An Official Jeweler Is Chosen

Finally, in 1915, one official jeweler, Balfour, was chosen. With this move, the days of great variety in badge design were over. Occasionally, other jewelers unofficially made Theta badges. The C.B. Dyer Company of Indianapolis was known for its badges featuring long, extended points, but these were never official.

Through the years, gentle reminders in The Magazine addressed proper use of the badge. In a 1904 issue, members were asked not to use badges "...to supply the missing link in a cuff, to fasten a stock, to pin a belt securely, or even to clasp milady's stray scolding locks." In 1907, Grand Convention passed legislation that restricted the use of the badge design to the badge itself. Members and chapters were not to use the badge design on any other type of jewelry, hat pins, stationery, or other items. The members were asked repeatedly to not go overboard on any decoration on the badges themselves.

Our Badge Today

As of September 2009, J. Lewis Small became Kappa Alpha Theta's official jeweler. Founded in 1915 and located in Elwood, Ind., J. Lewis Small also manufactures finely crafted class rings and recognition awards.